1. Maine lawmakers are supporting a plan to set a minimum wage for teachers at $40,000 a year. If this bill passes, teachers would also be required to meet higher academic requirements, such as having a minimum 3.0 grade average in college. There are about 150 Maine teachers who earn less than $40,000.
2. Governor Paul LePage was repeatedly heckled by several members of the audience at a town hall meeting in Freeport yesterday. At one point, several people walked out of the meeting after arguing with him about his opposition to providing state welfare benefits for asylum seekers.
3. To help meet growing demand for psychiatric care and reduce pressure on local emergency rooms, the state will provide an additional $420,000 to Spring Harbor Hospital in Westbrook to reopen a dozen beds.
4. Former treasury secretary Lawrence Summers has made a proposal to stop issuing high denomination bills like the $100 bill. His reasoning is because the high denomination notes are said to facilitate criminal activities. Criminals would have a tougher time moving a million dollars when it’s 50 pounds of $20 bills.
5. A 3-year-old German Shorthaired Pointer named CJ won Best in Show at the Westminster Kennel Club last night in Madison Square Garden. He beat out over 2,700 other entries in 199 breeds and varieties. His handler says CJ stands out because of his unique personality.
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